COVID-19: Mosques, churches in Greece resume services

COVID-19: Mosques, churches in Greece resume services

KOMOTINI-Anadolu Agency

Mosques and churches in Greece have resumed services as part of the normalization process following the government's decision to ease coronavirus restrictions with worshippers required to follow social distancing guidelines.

Most mosques reopened on May 16 night with Tarawih, or special night prayers, performed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Greece was one of the first European countries to order the closure of all schools, bars, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, malls, cinemas, retail stores, museums, archaeological sites and hotels and received much praise for these measures.

Mosques have been closed for almost two months as part of efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Tonight, we performed the Tarawih prayer with the congregation, albeit with limited participation due to the measures," Sadık Sadık, president of the Western Thrace Mosques and Religious Officers Association, told Anadolu Agency.

"We missed praying with the congregation in our mosques," Sadık said, adding: "Hopefully, our country and the world will get rid of this pandemic as soon as possible and return to our normal lives.”

Meanwhile, "It is our responsibility to take action against the COVID-19 outbreak that threatens the world," said MP Hüseyin Zeybek, a member of the Muslim Turkish minority of Western Thrace.